Spring metal supported interior sunshield

ABSTRACT

A Spring Metal Supported Sunshield is designed to go on the interior of the front windshield of a vehicle. It is made of two layers, the outside layer being the reflective insulating material layer with a series of spring metal in a ribbed position between the second layer of Vinyl. The spring metal ads strength to the invention and still retains its ability to be folded over to make fit into position. This will fix the problem of having a sunshield fall in the window while being used in a parked vehicle.

Applicant claims priority to Provisional Application No. 61/369,655filed on Jul. 30, 2010.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

In the current field of sunshields, and portable Sunshield for cars,trucks and Vans. The application of this invention is to help protectVehicles from harmful rays from the sun when parked.

There have been many inventions made to help protect vehicles from thesun. There have been many designs over the years to be placed inside theinterior, and exterior of the vehicle. The most well known of thedesigns is the folding cardboard shade shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,202,396.Another design tried, has been the Venetian blind style. As seen in U.S.Pat. No. 4,332,414. Some spring metal has also been applied in acollapsible, fabric covered loops, shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,784.Also the metal has been used to try to add strength, by putting a spinein the center as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,599. Also to try to helpthe Sunshield stay up in the window many have tried to add suction cupsand clips to hold it in the window as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,035,460.

In each attempt to balance the quality and form of the product. Thematerials and designs have been changed to try to meet a balance. Byusing cardboard for the folding shade it is very cheap to manufacture,and is easy to store when being folded. Being made of cheap materials itdoes not fully achieve its purpose and functionality, which is to helpreduce heat and block UV rays.

Also Cardboard is not flexible. If bent, it cannot be repaired. Otherslike the Venetian blind style need to be installed and loses itsaffordability and removability. The cloth and spring metal still aredifficult to put away and still do not fully succeed in completing theirpurpose. Even the most Ideal sunshields made of lightweight, reflectivematerial will succumb to the rays of the sun. Loosing thereeffectiveness over time. Even some that have tried to add support likemetal or plastic have not yet perfected the design in function and form.Many products that are made of the reflective material collapse overtime and fail to protect the Vehicle from the Sun's Rays. Also in someof the manufacturing processes of the reflective material it damages theair bubbles that add dead air space needed to create the insulatingvalue. Some have tried to fix the collapsing problem with suction cupsand or clips. But these are still only temporary solutions.

Suction cups eventually loose there ability to stick to the window do tosun damage. And clips only add to the time necessary to install anduninstall the sunshield. Allowing the sunshield to fail in its useovertime.

The Ideal design for a sunshield would be flexible and self supporting,easy to install and remove from the windshield of the vehicle. Also theMaterials needed, would have to be able to withstand the heat that theyare protecting the vehicle from. And remain in position during its timeof use in a parked vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to providing an improved sunshieldover the prior art, by adding additional strength with rolled springmetal to allow flexibility and strength. And still utilizing materialsthat add superior reflective and insulating properties, plus a strongervinyl backing for cosmetic appeal. Allowing the sunshield the durabilityand strength to stay in position during its use.

The sunshield is comprised of three layers, one being the reflectiveinsolating material on the outside, to block the suns rays andprotecting the interior of the vehicle from heat and sun damage. Thesecond layer consist of the rolled spring metal placed in proper supportlocations. With the final layer being the vinyl backing seen from theinterior of the vehicle, giving a cleaner cosmetic look to the prior artin the field of sunshields.

With the added strength given by the rolled spring metal the sunshieldcan be folded in half and will spring back to its original position.Keeping the sunshield from folding over in extreme heat and extendeduse, thus allowing the sunshield superior durability over time. Theadded strength from the spring metal allows the sunshield to be rolledinstead of folded into and accordion style, witch has been used to addstrength to the prior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. (1) is a perspective interior view of the Spring Metal SupportedSunshield (10) in its upright position. It shows the Short Spring Metal(12), and long (14) in a Rib formation in between the Vinyl (A) andReflective Insulation Material (B). Also shown is the bias tape (18)sewn around the outside and inside the Mirror Cut Out Position (20) ofthe Spring Metal Supported Sunshield (10), and the Elastic Straps (16)in the undone position.

FIG. (2) is a fragmented view of the inventions materials showing theReflective Insulation Material (B) on top with the Short Spring Metal(12) and Long Spring Metal (14) in the middle with the Vinyl Material(A) on the bottom. To the left is the Bias Tape (18) and Elastic Straps(16).

FIG. (3) is a close up perspective view of the Short Spring Metal (12)and Long Spring Metal (14). It shows the curve desired to make theSpring Metal Rigged enough to hold a straight position and flexibleenough to be bent and return to its Rigged position.

FIG. (4) is a close up perspective showing FIG. (1) Mirror Cut OutPosition (20). It shows the Short Spring Metal (12) and Long SpringMetal (14) in ghost lines. With ghost lines showing a bend illustratingthe Flexibility of the Spring Metal by bending the inner corner of theMirror Cut Out Position (20).

FIG. (5) is a perspective view of the FIG. (1) Spring Metal SupportedSunshield (10) in its storage position. It shows the Vinyl (A) on theoutside when the Sunshield is rolled for storage. Also shown is theElastic Straps (16) in there storage position.

FIG. (6) is a perspective view of FIG. (1) Spring Metal SupportedSunshield (10) in the process of being unrolled for its uprightposition. When being unrolled you can see the Reflective InsulationMaterial (B) on the inside. With the Vinyl (A) side now on the bottom.The Elastic Bands (16) are now loose and in there open position.

FIG. (7) is a forward perspective view of the FIG. (1) Spring MetalSupported Sunshield (10) in its final upright position. You can see theReflective Insulation Material (B) from the outside of the vehicle. Alsoshown in ghost lines are the Short Spring Metal (12) and Long SpringMetal (14) in there Ribbed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The Spring Metal Supported Sunshield (10) in FIG. (1) shows theinvention in its current form. The Mirror Cut Out Position (20) can becut in any form, it is shown in the common V shape in the art for itsability to be easily sewn on a common sewing machine. You can see inFIG. (1) the ghost line for the Short Spring Metal (12) and Long SpringMetal (14) shown in its rib formation. Also outlined is the Bias Tape(18) used to sew the edges together. Sewn under the Bias Tape (18) isthe Elastic Bands (16) for storage.

If you look to FIG. (2) you will see the cut out of all the materialsused in the invention of the FIG. (1) Spring Metal Supported Sunshield(10). After taking the Vinyl Layer (A) and placing the Short SpringMetal (12) and Long Spring Metal (14) into position the ReflectiveInsulation Layer (B), is then bonded to Vinyl Layer (A). Holding theSpring Metal into place.

After the layers have been bonded to one another, they now can be sewnalong the edges with the Bias Tape (18). Also sewn on at this time isthe Elastic Bands (16), which are used to hold the rolled FIG. (1)Spring Metal Supported Sunshield (10) into its storage position as shownin FIG. (5) and FIG. (6).

When looking at FIG. (3) you will see a close up view of the curvedShort Spring Metal (12) and Long Spring Metal (14). The curve given tothe metal will add to the rigged strength when held out in its straightform. With the durability of the metal it allows it to be bent andreturn to its original position as illustrated in FIG. (4). This fixesthe problem that sunshields have had in staying in position during usein a parked vehicle. It will now not fall out or sag in the window whenput up in the vehicle. In some previous art, suction cups or clips havebeen used to try to fix this problem. Also seen in previous art has beenfolds to add strength to the sunshield. With out the need for folds, thebest method for storage is to roll the sunshield as seen in FIG. (5) andFIG. (6).

Size for sunshields vary depending on the size of the window in theVehicle being used as seen in FIG. (7). Making the sunshield availablefor any Vehicle. Also the basic shape and design as seen in FIG. (1) iseasily modified to fit all vehicles, since the basic design of frontwindows are the same. Also seen in FIGS. (1), (2), (4), (5), (6) and (7)the Vinyl (A) can be done in many colors making them Ideal for matchingthe interior of the different Vehicles. Allowing for furthercustomization.

1. A Spring Metal Supported Sunshield will have a basic design to fitthe front window of any Vehicle with small modifications of size basedon the shape of the window in the Vehicle. It will be made of threelayers one being a Reflective Insulating material to add the ability tohelp lower the temp. of the Vehicle being used. Also the second layerwill be made of a set of Concaved Spring metal ribs to add durabilityand prolonged strength to the Sunshield. The third layer will be made ofVinyl for its strength and ability to customize the look to match anyvehicle's interior. With out the need for strength from folds in thematerial it is now able to be rolled and held together with two elasticstraps for storage.
 2. The Spring Metal Supported Sunshield of claim(1), will have the support ribs made of concaved spring metal.
 3. TheSpring Metal Supported Sunshield of claim (1), will be made of twomaterial layers held together with a strong adhesive and a sewn edgewith bias tape.
 4. The Spring Metal Supported Sunshield of claim (1),and claim (3) will be made of reflective insulating material.
 5. TheSpring Metal Supported Sunshield of claim (1) and claim (3) will be madeof Vinyl for its strength and colors available.
 6. The Spring MetalSupported Sunshield of claim (1) will be held together with elasticbands when placed in its storage position.
 7. The Spring Metal SupportedSunshield of claim (1), will be held in position by either the carvisors or if custom made will be held up by the tucking the sunshieldunder the top lip of the vehicles interior window trim.